Wrench.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

M. M. LE MAY.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25, 190s.

Jamezzfar rawjllemy W fi l/9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS M. LE MAY, OF LEIGHTON, ALABAMA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed August 25, 1905. Serial No. 275,833.

- minimum to economize in the manufacture thereof and without detracting in the least from its durability or interfering with a quick and correct adjustment of the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw.

The improved wrench may be readily adjusted for engagement with different sizes of nuts or bolt-heads or for use with other devices.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is-a view in elevation of the improved wrench. Fig. 2 is a similar view shown partly in section. Fig. 3 is a'detail perspective view of the rigid jaw and its shank. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the sliding jaw and its shank. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the rotatable locking sleeve or collar.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The rigid jaw 1 has a shank 2 of suitable length terminally provided with a grip or handle 3, as in ordinary structures of this class. The shank 2 is preferably flat on opposite sides throughout a greater portion of its length, and one edge thereof has racks or rib projections 4 thereon, each of which has one end beveled, as at 5, the said racks or rib projections being parallel with one another for a purpose hereinafter described. The sliding jaw 6 has an opening 7 therethrough to freely slip over the shank 2 of the rigid j aw 1 and is also provided with 'a substantially tubular shank 8, having a longitudinal slot 9 extending the full length thereof. The bore of the shank 8 is angular in cross-section but the outer surface is cylindrical and is devoid of racks or rib projections. The slot 9 of the tubular shank 8 exposes the racks or rib projections 4 on the one edge of the shank 2 of the rigid jaw. On the terminalof the tubular shank 8, at a point diametrically opposite the slot 9, a boss or projection 10 is suitably secured, and between the said boss or projection and the slidable jaw 6 a locking sleeve or nut 11 is rotatably disposed on the f shank 8 and has inner threads 12, terminally separated by an unthreaded or slotted portion 13, extending longitudinally through the sleeve. The ends of the threads 12 are beveled, as at 14, to cooperate with the beveled terminals of the racks or rib projections 4 to insure 'a reliable engagement of the threads with the racks or ribs. The sleeve or nut 11 is rotatable on the tubular shank 8 and has outer milled or roughened surfaces 15 to facilitate the operation thereof. When the sleeve or nut'll is turned to bring the unthreaded or slotted portion 13 thereof over the racks or rib projections 4, the slidable jaw 6 and its shank 7, together with the sleeve,

may be freely moved longitudinally over the shank 2 of the rigid jaw 1. When the sleeve 11 is turned to cause the threads thereof to engage the racks or ribs, the slidable jaw will be locked against movement any distance de-' sired from therigid jaw 1.

The opposite ends of the sleeve or nut 11 are formed with reversely-inclined faces 16 and 17, starting from and terminating at the outer and inner portions of shoulders 18 and 19, which respectively abut against one side of-the slidable jaw 6, close to the tubular shank 8, and one end of the boss or projection 10. To insure a perfect adjustment and an absolute certainty of instantaneous engagement of the sleeve 11, the front end of the latter is formed with a reclining face 16, beginning at the inner portion of a shoulder 18 and extending back to a point from said shoulder the same len th as the racks or rib projections 4 on the s ank 2, said reclining face being also adjusted to sit in the same position or have the same reclining direction as the threads 12 inside of the sleeve. The purpose of said reclining face is to allow the threads inside the sleeve to be fully engaged with the racks or rib projections 4 on shank 2 before the movable jaw 6 is casued to move forward to a tightening adjustment. This reclining face merges into an inclining face 17, the latter face aiding in tightening the jaws of the wrench on a nut, tap, or other device engaged by the wrench. The advantages of said reclining and inclining faces are a certainty of engagement of the threads of the locking- ICC sleeve in case the jaws of the wrench are aplatter and the said sleeve and having replied to a nut or bolt of such size that when the threads of the sleeve and the racks of the shank 2 exactly mesh a slight rotation of the sleeve will insure a firm locking of the aws of the wrench on the nut or other device engaged, and the reclining face being set in the same position as the threads inside of the sleeve will permit the latter to be firmly engaged with the racks or rib projections on the shank 2. These advantages are present particularly when an exact fit or adjustment of the jaws of the wrench can be obtained; but when such exact fit is lacking the take-up or inclined faces are brought into play. This reclining and inclining face structure as well as the shoulder 18, is duplicated at the opposite ends of the sleeve. A further advantage is that the inclined face on the end of the sleeve and the threads on the shank being correspondingly inclined provides a double take-up in the wrench.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the number of essential parts of the wrench consists of the rigid jaw and its shank, the slidable jaw and tubular shank, and the sleeve or collar carried by the shank and slidable jaw, the latter having the auxiliary device or boss 10, which is readily applicable and can be produced at a small expense.

The entire wrench structure is economical in the cost of manufacture as well as strong and durable by reason of the absence of frail parts, and hence it can be subjected to hard usage without liability to injury.

It will be understood that any preferred metal may be used in the construction of the several parts of the wrench, and further changes in the proportions and dimensions may be adopted at will.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a wrench, a rigid jaw having a shank with rib projections on one edge, a slidable jaw having a tubular shank embracing the shank of the rigid aw and formed with a slot to expose the rib projections of the latter, a boss on the shank of the slidable jaw, and an internally-threaded sleeve rotatably disposed on the shank of the slidable jaw between the versely-inclined faces at opposite ends and an unthreaded portion extending longitudinally therethrough to clear the rib projections of the shank on the rigid jaw.

2. In a wrench, a rigid jaw having a shank with rib projections on one edge, a slidable jaw having a shank embracing the shank of the rigid jaw and provided with a projection near its rear terminal, and an internallythreaded sleeve rotatably disposed on the shank of the slidable aw and provided with reversely-inclined faces at opposite ends to jam the same between the slidable jaw and the projection to lock the said latter aw in adjusted position.

8. In a wrench, a rigid jaw having a shank provided with rib projections, a slidable jaw having a shank embracing the shank of the rigid jaw and provided with a projection at a distance from the aw thereof, and a sleeve rotatably disposed on and movable with the shank of the slidable aw, the said sleeve having internal threads partially extending thereover, and reversely-inclined faces at opposite ends beginning and terminating at inner and outer portions of shoulders.

4. In a wrench, a rigid jaw having a shank with rib projections on one edge, a slidable jaw having a tubular shank to embrace the shank of the rigid jaw, said tubular shank being longitudinally slotted to expose the rib projections, and also provided with a boss at the rear extremity diametrically opposite the slot, and a sleeve having threads extending around a portion of the interior thereof, and the remaining part of the interior unthreaded, said sleeve being'rotatably disposed on the shank of the slidable jaw and having reversely-inclined faces at the forward and rear ends to respectively engage the adjacent edge portions of the slidable jaw and the projection.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARCUS M. LE MAY. Witnesses:

W. D. RORER, MoRR ss HENRY. 

